Chapter 123: Standoff

"Heh, want to know? Then let's go and ask that Shi!" Nangong Yao stood up and announced to the group.

"You mean we should go find Shi?" Qin Yu asked.

"Of course. I'm quite interested in him!" Nangong Yao replied as if it were obvious.

"But, not to mention that we don't know exactly where he is, if we just go rushing in like this, I'm afraid a fierce battle will be unavoidable," Qin Yu said.

"I know where he is. It won't be rushing in blindly; I think he will be quite happy to see us. Besides, we aren't all going. Just you, your man, and me—the three of us," Nangong Yao said.

"Why? I want to go too!" Zhao Meng protested, unconvinced.

"Aren't you going to take care of your man? He’s still quite weak, you know," Nangong Yao teased.

"Xiao Meng, you and Xia Cheng stay here and rest. We’ll be back soon," Qin Yu said.

"Xue Qi, you stay behind and take good care of Feng Ke." Qing Li indicated that he would follow his woman's lead.

Xue Qi nodded and replied, "Understood!"

The rest was simple. Qin Yu left some supplements for Zhao Meng, instructed her to prepare some nutritious food for Feng Ke, and then pulled Qing Li along to follow Nangong Yao.

It was unclear how Nangong Yao knew where Shi was, but after a few twists and turns, they arrived at a small, isolated courtyard. To her surprise, Qin Yu realized it was only a hundred meters away from their previous encampment. Surely, it must have been a coincidence.

Nangong Yao looked at the tightly closed gate. With a flick of his wrists, a compass suddenly appeared in his hand. After whispering something, he sent the compass flying into the gate, where it promptly vanished. Immediately after, Qin Yu and Qing Li watched as the gate slowly swung open.

Nangong Yao smiled at Qin Yu and said, "Let's go," before stepping into the yard. Qin Yu and Qing Li exchanged a glance and followed him inside.

The courtyard was desolate, containing nothing but the original owner's stone table and stools. Qing Li held Qin Yu’s hand, keeping close to Nangong Yao while slowly scanning the area with his mental energy. Walking in front, Nangong Yao sensed the mental probe, a smirk playing on his lips as he quickened his pace.

Soon, the three reached a room that resembled a study. A man was sitting on a chair facing the door. Qin Yu recognized him instantly as Shi. She tugged at Qing Li, signaling that the person before them was indeed Shi. Qing Li nodded and patted her hand to reassure her.

Shi sensed their arrival and looked up. His gaze swept over Qin Yu and Qing Li before finally resting on Nangong Yao.

"Is this your property?" he asked, holding up the compass in his hoarse voice.

Nangong Yao nodded. "Of course!"

Shi placed the compass on the table before him and asked, "What is your business here?"

"Heh, we are very interested in what you have in your basement, so..." Before he could finish, Shi lunged at him. A sharp dagger in his hand, glinting with a sinister light, aimed directly for Nangong Yao's throat, only to be blocked by the latter.

Nangong Yao laughed. "Don't be so tense. We aren't going to do anything to her. To be precise, I'm here to help you!"

Shi stared at the smiling man, his eyes turbulent. How did this guy know of her existence? Had he been exposed? Thinking this, Shi glanced coolly at Qing Li and Qin Yu, a flicker of light passing through his eyes.

Nangong Yao stepped sideways, shielding Qin Yu and Qing Li from view. "Look at me, look at me! I’m the one who can help you!"

Shi withdrew his gaze, stepped back, sheathed his dagger, and said, "There is nothing here. Please leave."

Nangong Yao clicked his tongue, circled around Shi, and said, "You tried to kill me, yet you say there's nothing here? I told you I'm here to help—why won't you believe me?"

Shi snorted coldly. "A weasel paying respects to a chicken! Leave at once!"

Nangong Yao didn't mind the man's attitude at all; instead, he was quite amazed that the man knew such a common idiom. He chuckled, "Oh, oh! I didn't expect you to know idioms! That's impressive, truly impressive! Worthy of encouragement and praise! Ha ha!"

Hearing the familiar tone, Shi asked with some confusion, "Did you know me before?"

Nangong Yao adopted an expression of having accidentally revealed something, shaking his head repeatedly. "No, no! How could someone as magnificent as me know someone as unmagnificent as you? Absolutely not!" *Damn it, he knew this guy had lost his memory!* Nangong Yao cursed silently.

"You definitely know me!" Shi insisted, looking at Nangong Yao with conviction.

"I said I don't, so I don't! Let us go to the basement and see! She must be about to go berserk, right?" Nangong Yao said.

Shi looked up at the setting sun, pressed his lips together, and his expression turned grave. He stared at Nangong Yao, saying nothing. Seeing this, Nangong Yao knew the person in the basement couldn't hold on much longer. Though he didn't know the specific situation, he was certain that whatever was in the basement would shock Qin Yu. As for Qing Li... Nangong Yao thought, *that kid only cares about Qin Yu; nothing else matters to him, damn it!*

"I'm a man of good character! Take us there, come on! I’ll definitely be able to save her! Even if you don't believe me, you have to believe in this person's ability!" Nangong Yao pulled Qin Yu over and patted her shoulder.

Shi stared intently at Qin Yu, then asked hesitantly, "She..."

"Oh my! You actually don't believe in her?" Nangong Yao said exaggeratedly.

Shi shook his head. "No, I believe in her, it's just..."

"Just what? What is there to hesitate about? It's getting dark, and we still have to go back for dinner! Hurry up, hurry up!" Nangong Yao urged.

Shi took a long look at Qin Yu, then turned and fiddled with the books on the desk. A door slowly opened to the left of where the group stood.

Nangong Yao couldn't wait to usher Qin Yu inside, but Qing Li slapped his hand away. Nangong Yao rubbed his nose, shrugged, and walked in first. Shi glanced at Qin Yu once more before following, and then Qin Yu and Qing Li trailed behind. The door slowly closed behind them.

Inside was a narrow passage that gradually widened as they went deeper. Ten minutes later, the four reached the basement.

A series of roars echoed from within, growing increasingly intense. Hearing the sound, Qin Yu’s face turned slightly pale, and the smile she had been maintaining froze. This sound...